IPOH: Furious that his love was rejected, a man allegedly set a mobile phone shop on fire in Langkap near Teluk Intan.

Hilir Perak district police chief ACP Ahmad Adnan Basri said a report of the 3.19pm incident on Saturday (April 15) was lodged by a 46-year-old woman, who is also the shop employee.

According to the complainant, the 54-year-old unemployed suspect came to the shop at 2.30pm before throwing a fit, injuring her and uttering obscene words.

The suspect also threatened to set the complainant and the shop on fire.

"Out of fear, the complainant rushed to the Langkap police station to make a report, and while doing so, the shop belonging to her brother was reported to have caught fire,” he said in a statement today (April 16).

ACP Ahmad Adnan said firefighters managed to put out the fire with losses estimated at RM100,000.

According to a witness, the suspect allegedly poured petrol over the premises and set it alight, he added.

He said unrequited love was believed to be the motive behind the incident, as the suspect often came to the shop drunk and tried to woo the complainant but was rejected because she is married with three children.

"The suspect also suffered burns to his face, hands and legs. During the arrest, the suspect was believed to be under the influence of alcohol,” he said, adding that the man was sent to the Teluk Intan Hospital for treatment.

The suspect has been remanded for five days to assist in the investigation under Section 435/323 of the Penal Code. - Bernama